Coffee consumption affects adipose tissue remodeling in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model by different mechanisms in rats

This study investigated the effects of coffee consumption on thermogenesis and lipid metabolism in brown (BAT), inguinal (iWAT), and epididymal (eWAT) adipose tissues, and their relationship with inflammatory and redox responses in rats. Wistar rats were fed control (CT), high-fat (HF), control with coffee (CT+), or high-fat with coffee (HF+) diets. The HF diet increased the adipocyte area in all adipose tissues, hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and liver steatosis scores. In BAT, it increased the number of unilocular adipocytes; upregulated Ppargc1a , Ucp1 , Vegfa , Vegfr2, and Il10 mRNA levels; and downregulated Acaca and Fasn mRNA levels. In iWAT, it elevated Vegfr2 and Slc2a4 mRNA levels and carbonyl content, and reduced lipid peroxidation and Ucp1 mRNA and protein levels. In eWAT, it upregulated Slc2a4, and downregulated Acaca , Fasn, Prkaa1, and Prkaa2 mRNA levels. The HF+ diet reduced the adipocyte area; unilocular adipocytes; and Acaca, Fasn, and Il10 mRNA levels in BAT. Coffee decreased catalase activity in BAT independent of diet type. In iWAT, the HF+ diet reduced adipocyte area and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, while increasing the number of multilocular adipocytes, Prdm16 and Vegfr2 mRNA levels, and UCP1 protein. Catalase activity decreased with coffee intake, regardless of diet type. In eWAT, coffee increased multilocular adipocytes and Prdm16 mRNA levels, and decreased Fasn mRNA, independent of diet type. Coffee combined with the control diet increased Ppargc1a and liver steatosis scores, while decreasing Acaca and Vegfr2 mRNA levels and catalase and GPx activities compared to those with the control diet. Overall, coffee consumption at levels comparable to the typical Brazilian intake partially mitigated BAT whitening, likely through the modulation of lipogenic and lipolytic gene expression. In the iWAT, coffee had a more pronounced effect by enhancing thermogenic and angiogenic gene expression, suggesting potential molecular mechanisms through which coffee may aid in obesity management.